Raily Arena asked:


Hay fever, also known as Allergic Rhinitis, is a common form of allergy that people have been suffering from for many decades.  Health experts estimate that about 50 million people chronically suffer from this type of nasal allergy.  If you frequently experience symptoms such as nasal congestion, sneezing, runny nose, postnasal drip, red, swollen eyes and frequent colds, you could have Allergic Rhinitis.  Oftentimes, it takes only small particles such as pollen to affect the human body in many ways.  Some of these effects include:

- Throat itchiness that may be intermittent or continuous

- Laryngitis or hoarseness due to pollen affecting the larynx

- RAD or Reactive Airway Disease, a prolonged respiratory irritation characterized by difficulty breathing, chest tightness, wheezing and coughing

- Asthma attacks – often times, your doctor will diagnose RAD before he diagnoses asthma

- Postnasal drainage, which could lead to sore throat because of fluids flowing into and irritating the throat

- Nasal salute, particularly in young children; characterized by a red crease across the nose due to constant rubbing, wiping and scratching

- Allergic conjunctivitis, which can lead to redness, itchiness and teary eyes

- Darkened areas around the eyes

- Headaches

- General fatigue

Why symptoms occur

When exposed to foreign substances such as allergens, the immune system becomes hyper-sensitive and the body reacts.  This is the same kind of reaction that happens when the human body is invaded by microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses.  Once the body is exposed to these types of allergens, it produces substances called histamines which causes inflammation, production of mucus and other symptoms associated with hay fever.

Causes of hay fever

Although pollen is the most common cause of allergies that lead to hay fever, there are other substances that can trigger symptoms as well.  These include dust, molds, pet dander, insects and food.  Although hay fever symptoms can easily be detected, proper diagnosis by a qualified physician is the best way for correct assessment of the condition.

Testing for hay fever allergies

The most common method of determining allergies is skin testing, wherein a minuscule amount of allergen is introduced into the skin to produce a reaction.  The doctor will then try to determine if cross-sensitivity is present, such as when allergies are caused by varying substances with similar protein structures.

Controlling symptoms

As a first step, people with allergies are adviced to avoid or at least minimize contact with substances and items that may trigger an attack.  It’s also important to be aware of your environment and to perform tasks necessary to reduce allergens, avoid work that might aggravate your sensitive skin and protect your body.  With the correct knowledge and treatment regarding Allergic Rhinitis, there is no reason why it cannot be managed efficiently.

Steve Marshal Caldwell asked:

Allergy is the most common condition through which every individual suffers at least once in his lifespan. Allergy is caused by the naturally occurring substances known as allergens. When these allergens react with your body, it release the histamines to control the effect of the allergens, hence allergy is caused. Pollen, dust, and bee venom are the types of allergens. Allergy is the result of excessive activation of certain white blood cells called mast cells and basophils by a type of antibody known as IgE, resulting in an extreme inflammatory response. Another definition of allergy explains it as an abnormal reaction by an individual’s immune system against a normally harmless substance. Some common well-known allergic reactions are allergic conjunctivitis, allergic rhinitis, asthma, food allergies, hay fever, hives, and eczema.

Allergies are categorized in the different types on the basis of the body parts they affect and on the basis of allergens. Different types of allergies are as follows:

1. Food Allergy

Food allergy is the one of the most common type of allergy. You can not decide that who is allergic to which food item. The most common symptoms of the food allergies are runny nose, itching, urticaria, vomiting, nausea, coughing, and angioedema. When this reaction becomes severe it is called as anaphylaxis. Children suffer from the food allergic reactions the most because there immune system is not well developed and they take that food for the first time.

2. Gastrointestinal Tract Allergy

Gastrointestinal tract allergy is caused when you eat any item or inhale any item that contains allergens. The allergen enters the gastrointestinal tract and causes the irritation of the tract. Abdominal pain, bloating, vomiting, and diarrhea are the symptoms of the gastrointestinal tract allergy.

3. Pet Allergies

Many individuals are allergic to pets. Allergens are found in the skin, hairs, saliva, and urine of pets. These allergens cause the eyes, nose, and skin allergies. Rashes, such as eczema and hives (urticaria) and irritation of eyes and nose are the symptoms caused by the pet allergies.

4. Tree or Grass Pollen Allergy

Maximum number of individual suffers from the allergies caused by the pollens that are released by the trees and plants during the flowering season. These allergies are generally called as the seasonal allergies. It is called as the allergic rhinitis. Sneezing and coughing are common symptoms caused by pollen allergy.

5. Dust Allergy

Dust allergy is caused when the dust particles (allergens) enters your nose, eyes, ear, and skin. Dust allergy is the one of allergies that can lead to the dangerous consequences. Swelling of nasal mucosa, impaired hearing due to entrance of allergens in eustachian tube, dead skin as the pores of the skin are filled with dust, and redness of eyes are the common symptoms of the dust allergy.

6. Smoke Allergy

Air pollution is growing day by day because of the smoke released from the different places. Some individuals are allergic to smoke released from vehicles, some are allergic to smoke released from factories, and some individuals to the smoke from cigarettes. These allergic show the symptoms like coughing, bronchoconstriction, wheezing and dyspnea, sometimes outright attacks of asthma.

7. Insects Stings and Bites Allergies

Allergies are caused when the insects stings or bites. Throat swelling, hives over the entire body, difficulty breathing, nausea, diarrhea, and shock are some of the symptoms caused by insect bites. Rashes on the skin are also noticed on the part where the insect bites.

8. Latex Allergy

This is the allergy seen among the individuals who are allergic to the rubber latex. Latex allergy may cause allergic reactions ranging from sneezing or a runny nose to anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening condition. Doctor should be consulted immediately in case of severe allergic reactions.

9. Clothes Allergy

Yes, it is true that some people are allergic to clothes. Laundry detergents can cause people to break out in an itchy rash; some individuals are particularly allergic to cotton or nylon and they get red rashes on their body when they wear those clothes. Even eczema is noted in some cases.

10. Hay fever

A very common allergy caused by the pollens or anthers released by the trees or plants during the flowering season and by the release of leaves during the shedding season. Sneezing, itchy nose and/or throat, nasal congestion, and coughing are common symptoms of hay fever. You can also notice fever in the individual suffering from the hay fever.

11. Medicines Allergy

Some cosmetics or some medicines cause allergic reactions on the people either externally or internally. Antibiotics are the most common medications that cause the allergies. If you suspect a medicine allergy, talk to your doctor first before assuming a reaction is a sign of allergy. Note: Please take the medications only and only after taking the permission from the doctor.

12. Chemical Allergy

Dyes, household cleaners, and pesticides used on lawns or plants can also cause allergic reactions in some people. Sometimes even the harmful chemicals are released in the water bodies by some chemical factories and thus cause the allergic reactions when we drink that water or wash the face with that water. Please note that this is the most severe case of allergy.